VP Pence Arrives In Middle East To Plead For Jerusalem

Vice-President Mike Pence traveled from Egypt to Jordan today as he continued his Middle East tour seeking support for President Trump’s plan to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem whilst trying to bring Palestinians and Israelis closer together.

Yesterday Mr Pence met with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi at the presidential palace in Cairo where the US Vice-President repeatedly stated that the Egyptian leader was a ‘friend’ of the US and that their ‘ties have never been stronger’ whilst his host Mr Sissi said that Mr Pence was a ‘dear guest’ whose visit ‘speaks volumes’ of the importance of Egyptian-US relations.

Before departing for Jordan today, Mr Pence told reporters during a joint press conference with Egyptian president Sissi that "the United States of America is deeply committed to restarting the peace process in the Middle East," and that he would be "delivering that message in Jordan,” and ”delivering that message in Israel, as well."

In Jordan King Abdullah II received him with a warm welcome though immediately made it clear that he was far more critical of the White House administration’s latest decision, when he said: “Sir, I had continuously voiced over the past year in my meetings in Washington my concerns regarding the U.S. decision on Jerusalem that does not come as a result of a comprehensive settlement to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”

“Today we have a major challenge to overcome, especially with some of the rising frustrations.”

Vice-President Pence, always the bridge builder, responded in kind that the US considers Jordan a friend and that “we are here to reaffirm our friendship and our partnership and our great respect for you.”

He then assured King Abdullah that Jordan would continue its role as the custodian of the city’s holy sites with the US’s blessing and that no decision on Jerusalem’s boundaries had as of yet been taken.

Mr Pence stated: “We are committed to restarting the peace process, and Jordan does now and has always played a central role in facilitating peace in the region.”